Protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as making progress on resolving protracted conflicts are priorities of the 2012 Irish OSCE Chairmanship, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore told the U.S. Helsinki Commission in Washington DC today, Feb 9.
According to OSCE, he expressed the Chairmanship’s readiness to build on the momentum in the Transdniestrian settlement process at a meeting in the “5+2” format in Dublin later this month, as well as its commitment to facilitating progress on other protracted conflicts in the OSCE region.
Stressing the potential lessons from Ireland’s own experience in conflict resolution, he said: “As you well know, we in Ireland can empathize only too well with those who are engaged in seemingly intractable conflicts. In Northern Ireland, the courage of leaders on both sides to negotiate and make compromises in the interest of peace, together with the perseverance of the Irish and British Governments, as well as international support – in particular from the United States – has resulted in a lasting settlement.”
He announced the participation of U.S. Senator George Mitchell, a mediator in the Northern Ireland peace process, at an OSCE meeting on conflict resolution using Northern Ireland as a case study in Dublin in April.
Tackling racism and intolerance in sport, trafficking in human beings, freedom of association and assembly, professional and ethical standards in democratic life, freedom of religion or belief, transnational threats, and promoting good governance, including by countering money laundering and terrorist financing, were among other priories for the year, he said.
During his visit, the Chairperson also met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. He will address the UN Security Council in New York tomorrow, Feb 10, The Financial reported.
